Embroidery data processing device

Provided is a method of editing embroidery data indicative of an embroidering area. According to the method, an embroidery area is displayed together with at least one sub-area which is included in the embroidery area. By designating a sub-area, a displayed condition of the sub-area is switched to another displayed condition. Further, simultaneously with the change of the displayed condition, a sewing condition assigned to the sub-area is changed to another sewing condition.

Skip to:  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History

Claims

1. A method of editing embroidery data indicative of an embroidering area, at least one sub-area being included inside said embroidering area, an embroidering pattern being formed on said embroidering area, another embroidery pattern being formed on said at least one sub-area, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying an embroidery area, which is designated by an operator, together with said at least one sub-area included in said embroidery area; and
changing a displayed condition of said at least one sub-area when said at least one sub-area is designated, on a screen, by the operator, said displayed condition including at least two distinct displayed conditions respectively corresponding to different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two distinct displayed conditions include different patterns displayed on said screen.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two distinct displayed conditions include different colors.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two distinct displayed conditions include difference in at least one of displayed pattern and displayed color.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of said at least two distinct displayed conditions is similar to a displayed condition of said embroidery area.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area include a condition in which said sub-area is formed as a blank area where no stitch is formed.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area include a condition in which said sub-area is formed as a filled-in area where said at least one sub-area is filled in with a certain embroidery pattern.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area include a condition in which an outline of said sub-area is embroidered.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of confirming whether changes are to be reflected to said embroidery data.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of updating said embroidery data when changes having been made are confirmed at said confirming step.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of canceling changes having been made by changing the displayed condition of said at least one sub-area.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of generating sewing data based on said embroidery data, said sewing data being stored in a recording medium which is readable by a sewing machine.

13. An embroidery data processing device for editing embroidery data indicative of an embroidering area, at least one sub-area being included inside said embroidering area, an embroidering pattern being formed on said embroidering area, another embroidery pattern being formed on said at least one sub-area, said embroidery data processing device comprising:

means for displaying an embroidery area, which is designated by an operator, together with said at least one sub-area included in said embroidery area; and
means for changing a displayed condition of said at least one sub-area when said at least one sub-area is designated, on a screen, by the operator, said displayed condition including at least two distinct displayed conditions respectively corresponding to different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area.

14. An embroidery data processing device for editing embroidery data indicative of an embroidering area, at least one sub-area being included inside said embroidering area, another embroidery pattern being formed on said at least one sub-area, said embroidery data processing device comprising:

an embroidery data memory which stores said embroidery data;
a display, which displays an image of said embroidery area together with said at least one sub-area included in said embroidery area;
a designating system which is operable by an operator to designate a sub-area displayed on said display;
a controller which switches a displayed condition of said sub-area designated with use of said designating system, said displayed condition including at least two distinct displayed conditions respectively corresponding to different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area.

15. The embroidery data processing device according to claim 14, wherein said at least two distinct displayed conditions include difference in at least one of displayed pattern and displayed color.

16. The embroidery data processing device according to claim 14, wherein one of said at least two distinct displayed conditions is similar to a displayed condition of said embroidery area.

17. The embroidery data processing device according to claim 14, wherein said different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area include a condition in which said sub-area is formed as a blank area where no stitch is formed.

18. The embroidery data processing device according to claim 14, wherein said different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area include a condition in which said sub-area is formed as a filled-in area where said at least one sub-area is filled in with a certain embroidery pattern.

19. The embroidery data processing device according to claim 14, wherein said different sewing conditions assigned to said at least one sub-area include a condition in which an outline of said sub-area is embroidered.

20. The embroidery data processing device according to claim 14, further comprising a data generating system which generates, in accordance with said embroidery data, sewing data to be read by a sewing machine.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
5386789 February 7, 1995 Futamura et al.
5558031 September 24, 1996 Muto et al.
5701830 December 30, 1997 Muto
Foreign Patent Documents
60-42740 September 1985 JPX
Patent History
Patent number: 5896822
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 8, 1997
Date of Patent: Apr 27, 1999
Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Aichi-Ken)
Inventor: Masao Futamura (Nagoya)
Primary Examiner: Peter Nerbun
Law Firm: Kane, Dalsimer, Sullivan, Kurucz, Levy, Eisele and Richard, LLP
Application Number: 8/943,870
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 112/1025; 112/47519
International Classification: D05C 502;